NO SHOOTING SEASON

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22319, 17 January 1936, Page 10

NO SHOOTING SEASON

BAN FOR NEST YEAR CLOSE PERIOD DECLARED MINISTER'S ANNOUNCEMENT Advice that will ho declared a close sen son for pa nip shoot'.up in the .Nortli Island has been received from (lie Hon. \Y. K. Parry. Minister of Interna! Affairs. by the Auckland Acclimatisation Society. Local sportsmen can not recall any previous close season *i! the Auckland district. "Sportsmen are never too happy when they hear that there is to be a close season at any time.'' said Mr. F. E. MeXenzie. president of the Auckland Acclimatisation Society, yesterday afternoon. "However, close seasons at intervals of about four years are essential if no better method of game conservation can be devised." The opinion that a close season entailed too great a sacrifice on the part of shooters was held by many members of the Auckland association, declared Mr. McKenzie. The association was going to suggest to the Minister that, as an alternative, in the Auckland acclimatisation district, 2os be charged as a licence fee instead of 20s, as at present, and that the society liberate 2i>oQ pheasants a year, instead of 1000 at present. It is also proposed that the society rear 4000 or 5000 grey duck a year under bantams. "Even if there is a close season for the rest of the North Island, i see no reason why Auckland should not have separate rules," said Mr McKenzie. "Our territory i« .'3OO miles long and 200 miles wide. It is really big enough to have a separate set of regulations." Similar views were expressed bv Mr C. A. Whi tnev, a member of the executive committee of the Auckland society. "Jf the breeding of pheasant, grey and mallard duck were proper!y organised, there would be no need for a close season," he said. "Ihere is not enough co-operation between the North Island acclimatisation societies," .Mr. Whitney stated. "If they would work together, thousands of birds a year could be reared and liberated. "With the change in Government, sportsmen are expecting a tremendous improvement in the administration of acclimatisation and fishing matters." he continued. "There is room for a great deal of improvement, and I think it is coming soon."